Flying machine



E. PHILLIPS FLYING MACHINE Sept. a, 1935.

Filed Feb. 16, 1932 '4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Mad,

Sept; 3, 1935. E. PHlLLlPS 2,013,250

FLYING MACHINE Filed Feb. 16, .1932 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Sept. 3, 1935.

E. PHILLIPS FLYING MACHINE Filed Feb. 16, 1932 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Sept 3,1935. I PHlLLlPs 2,013,250

FLYING MACHINE Filed Feb. 16, 1932 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented Sept. 3,1935 FLYING MACHINE Everett Phillips, Leesburg, Va.

Application February 16, 1932, Serial No. 593,319

4 Claims.

This invention relates to aerial navigation and more particularly to aflying machine of the heavier than .air type.

In my improved machine, I propose to use a lifting or supporting plane,but instead of the usual type of propeller, I have devised a novelpropelling means having a much larger effective area of contact with theair.

Also, instead of the usual fuselage or body which is fixed or stationarywith respect to the supporting plane, I propose to employ a body in theform of a rotary drum, in the interior of which both passengers andmotor are housed.

In order that the invention may be readily understood, reference is hadto the accompanying drawings, conventionally illustrating one embodimentof the invention, and forming part of this specification. In thesedrawings:

Fig. l is a side elevation of my improved flying machine complete;

Fig. 2 is a rear end view thereof;

Fig. 3 is a front end view thereof;

Fig. 4 is a vertical central longitudinal section through the machine;

Fig. 5 is .a transverse section on an enlarged scale, takensubstantially on the line 5-5 of Fig. 4; and

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary transverse section, taken substantially on theline 66 of Fig. 4, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Referring to the drawings in detail, my improved machine comprises afixed rigid frame including a pair of spaced upright front members Isecured at their lower ends to a supporting axle 3 carrying wheels 4,suitable springs or cushions I being interposed between the framemembers and axle.

As shown in Fig. 3, the frame members I comprise upper portions whichdiverge slightly, and lower intermediate portions I which also diverge.and continue downward as vertical portions l The middle portions of theframe members I are substantially parallel and are rigidly anchored to afixed ring 2, as clearly shown in Figs. 3 and 4, the central portion ofsaid frame members being enclosed by and lying inside of said ring.

At the rear of the machine, are likewise employed a pair of framemembers 5 connected at their bottom by a loop 6 to which may be secureda supporting device such as a runner 1. A fixed tail section 8 isrigidly secured to the frame members 5. One or more tie rods 9 extendsfrom the axle 3 to the loop 6 so as to secure the front and rear framemembers together.

Rigidly secured to the upper ends of the frame members I and 5 is themain supporting plane III. This may be of any usual or desiredconstruction but it will be observed that instead of extendingtransversely of the machine, like the usual wings, it extendslongitudinally thereof and is relatively narrow as compared with itslength.

Disposed between the front and rear frame members I and 5 and mountedfor rotation on the frame, is the main body of my improved machine whichcomprises a hollow drum II. This drum has its maximum diameter at anintermediate point and tapers both forwardly and rearwardly from suchpoint, .as indicated at ll and II respectively.

The propelling means for my improved machine comprises one or morehelical flanges or fins I2 which surround the drum II and extendcontinuously from the front to the rear thereof. Any desired number ofthese fins or flanges may be employed, but in the drawings I haveillustrated two such flanges located apart.

Various means for supporting and rotating this drum may be devisedwithout departing from the spirit of the invention. By way of example, Ihave illustrated a pair of bearing rings or runways I3 located one ateach end of the drum II and arranged to run on a plurality of rollers I4 carried by longitudinally extending frame members I5 rigidly connectedat their ends with the front and rear members I and 5 respectively andlocated inside of the ring 2 and tail section 8 and inside of the drumII. By reference to Fig. 5, it will be seen that four such frame membersI5 and four supporting rollers I4 are employed, but it will, of course,be understood that any desired number may be used. By forming theinternal or bearing surface of the runways I3 somewhat conical, and bydisposing the rollers I4 at .a corresponding angle, the arrangement willpartake of the nature of a thrust bearing to sustain the longitudinalthrust due to the reaction of the helical flanges against the air. Ifnecessary, separate thrust bearings can, of course, be employed.

It will, of course, be understood that the diameter of the drum I I atits forward end corresponds with that of the ring 2 and that theadjacent edges of such ring and drum are disposed close together. Aspecial joint for excluding air may be used at this point if desired.Similarly, the rear end of the drum conforms with the diameter of andruns adjacent to the tail section 8.

A floor or platform I6 may be supported upon the lower pair of the framemembers I5, as clearly shown in Fig. 4, and on this floor may be placedsuitable chairs or seats for passengers.

, On it is also mounted a motor H for driving the against the air whichserves to propel the machine.

It will be particularly noted that the supporting plane it extends at aslight angle to the axis of the drum, being higher at the front than atthe rear. Preferably, this plane is substantially parallel with the reartapered portion N of the drum H. Owing to this arrangement, and to thefact that the forward portion of the drum is alsotapered, as indicatedat II, it follows that there is provided a space between the forward endof the drum and the plane l0 which is tapered or becomes increasinglyrestricted rearwardly. By virtue of this arrangement, there is atendency for the air to become slightly compressed as it passeslinbetween the drum and plane and this enables the helical flanges to exerta more effective propelling'action.

The forward end of the drum'is closed by a door 253 hinged to the fixedring 2. and having at its: front a transparent dome 2| through which thepilot may look out. The pilots seat is indicated at 23 near the forwardend of the drum.

In order to steer ordirect thecourse of the machine,,l'. provide atailor rudder 22 pivoted to the rear end of the plane l5 to'swing abouta horizontal axis. This rudder is connected by suitable links or rods 25and 26 with a control lever 24 located adjacent the pilots seat 23.

Alsoyin order to steer the machine laterally, I provide adjacent thepilots seat'a steering wheel 21. This may be connected in any suitableway, as by means of a gear 28, meshing with gears 29' and 39 carried bycross shafts to the outer ends of which are secured other gears 3i and32 meshing with gears 33 and 34 carried at the upper ends of verticalshafts 35 and 36 (see Fig. 5). The lower ends of the shafts 35 and 36are bent forwardly, as shown'at S'fi and engage in eyes 38 or the likesecured to a pair of forward rudders 39 pivotally mounted upon thevertical portions I of the frame members I, so that they can swing aboutsubstantially vertical axes.

The arrangement above described for operating the vertical andhorizontal rudders, is. illustrative only, and, of course, may be variedas desired, the important thing being, however, that these rudders arecontrolled from within the hollow rotating drum.

What I claim is:

1. A flying machine comprising a frame, a drum mounted for rotation insaid frame, said drum tapering both forwardly and rearwardly from anintermediate point of maximum diameter, and having a helical flangesurrounding the same, and a plane carried by said frame above said drum,said plane lying substantially parallel with the rear tapered surface ofsaid drum and at an acute angle to the forward tapered portion thereof.

2. A flying machine comprising a frame, a drum mounted for rotation insaid frame, said drum tapering" toward the frontend from an intermediatepoint of maximum diameter and'having a helical flange surrounding thesame, and a plane carried by said frame above said drum and extendinglongitudinally thereof, the forward taper ing surface of said drumforming an acute angle with said plane, whereby the air space betweensaid drum and plane. becomes progressively more restricted from thefront rearwardly to said intier-mediate point. V

3. A flying machine comprising a frame, a drum mounted for rotation insaid frame, said drum tapering both forwardly and rearwardly from anintermediate point of maximum diameter, and having a helical flangesurrounding the same, and

a plane carried by said frame above said drum, said plane lyingsubstantially parallel with the rear tapered surface of said drum andmeans housed within said drum for causing said drum to revolve. 1

4. A flying machine 'comprisinga frame, a drum mounted for rotation insaid frame, said .drum tapering both forwardly and rearwardly'fro-m anintermediate point of maximumdiameter and having a helical flangesurrounding the same, a plane carried by, said frame above said drum,said plane lying substantially parallel with the rear tapered surface ofsaid drum and a portion of said frame extending internally of said drumproviding supporting means for a motor, said motor serving to rotatesaid drum.

EVERETT PHILLIPS.

